Brooder assembly



Feb. 2, 1960 J. T. LANDGRAF ETAL BROODER ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 21, 1957 lflf/wfars. 702011 4 anayraf. J n 92170274 W/Velfsom. wad r17 flZfrz Feb. 2, 1960 J LANDGRAF ETAL 2,923,274-

BROODER ASSEMBLY Filed Nov. 21, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lllllllllllllil I1z1/1ziorm JZwaZTAand raf. 17977102140. 61.5011.

BROODER 'ASSENIBLY Jacob T. Landgraf, Freeport, and Raymond W. Nelson, Arlington Heights, Ill., assignors ,to H. D. Hudson Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Minnesota Application November 21, 1957, Serial No. 697,960

11 Claims. (21, 119-32 The present invention relates-to a novel brooder assembly for poultry which is capable of being shipped knocked-down or disassembled and readily and easily assembled in situ by one without previous experience and with a minimum of tools and effort. In fact, the component parts are so constructed and arranged whereby all that is required to completely assemble is a screw driver and a wrench. I

' It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention to provide a novel brooder construction in which the component parts are separable and shipped (llSflSSClllr bled but so designed and constructed thatthey may be quickly and easily assembled in position ready for use.

Due to the novel construction, arrangement and manner of joining the component parts, all that is required for their assembly is a screw driver and wrench, simple tools that are in most general use and readily available. With such tools anyone without previous experience or prior knowledge of the assembly may in a matter of very few minutes join the parts into a rigid, operative assembly.

Another important object of the present invention is the provision in a brooder assembly for poultry of a novel hover or canopy comprising a canopy top and multiple interlocking sections or segments and a,novel means and manner of assembling and supporting the hover in rigid assembly.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a novel supporting unit for a sectional hover or canopy assembly of a brooder, the supporting unit being in the form of a star-shaped brace upon which the individual hover or canopy sections are assembled and securely retained in operativeposition.

The present invention further comprehends the provision of a novel brooder assembly for poultry and to a novel means and manner of supporting the assembly in elevated position upon the floor, ground, etc., or to suspend the assembly in elevated position above the floor.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, efficiency, economy and ease of assembly h 2,923,274 Faiented Feb. 3, 1960 i but with canopy top and canopy sections of the hover preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change, and com, prehends other details, arrangements .of parts, features and constructions without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure -l is a view in perspective of a partially assembled gas brooder constructed in accordance with the pres- ,ent invention :but with one of the canopy sections or segments of the hover removed.

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the novel gas brooder removed.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the assembled gas brooder with the view taken from below the brooder.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the base assembly of Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation of the base assembly but with the heater elements removed.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view in vertical cross section taken on approximately the line 6-6 of Fig. 4 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in vertical cross section taken on the line 7-7 .of Fig. 4 and viewed in the direction of the arrows. 7

Fig. 8 isa fragmentary view, part in top plan and part in horizontal cross section, showing the manner of attaching at one corner two sides of meet the triangles forming thestarbrace shown assembled in Figs. 2 and 4.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view in 'vertical cross section above the burner in' sp'aced relation, the radiant 12 and the base plate 1 1 being supported in vertically spaced relation upon vertically disposed heater hangers 13. The heater hangers 'are of channel-shape 'and circumferentially spaced about the base plate and radiant.

Detachably mounted upon and aflixed to the flanged upperends 14 ofthe vertical hangers 13 is a polygonal canopy top 15 which is shown as having a radially outwardly anddownwardly stepped contour from the center 16 thereof and with the center of this canopy top provided with an adjustable canopy hanger assembly 17 and hook 18 whereby the canopy top and the'attached depending brooder assembly may be suspended in adjusted position above the floor by suitable supporting means, such as a rope and pulleys. The present brooder is also shown provided with detachable supporting tripod legs 19 and feet 20 whereby the brooder assembly maybe supported upon the floor, ground or other supporting surface. Each leg 19 is securely but detachably mounted by a bolt and slot arrangement upon a vertical hanger 13,

the legs being of channel-shape and the upper portion thereof received within the channel of ahanger 13. To each of these hangers 13 is also aflixed aninclined bracket 21 for mounting and supporting a star brace 22.

The star brace or assembly 22 comprises 'two overlying triangular sections 23 and 24 each formed of angle members 25 joined together at their intersecting corners 26 and 26 respectively, and with their horizontal flanges 27 disposed in abutting and overlapping relation. As shown in Figs, 4, 5 and 6, the inclined brackets 21 are affixed to and rigidly support thestar brace assembly in operative position. Thecorners 26 of the upper triangular section 23 are each provided with an end flange 27 and the corners 26 of the lower triangular section 24 are each provided with an .end flange 27 and end plate 28 of a greater height than the end flanges 27 so as --to project above the upper edge of the section 24and be disposed in substantial horizontaltalignment with :the

upper surface of the end flanges 27 .on the upper triangular section 23.

as comprising six progressively widening sections 01 segments with the alternate three sections 29 forming vent sections. Each of the side edges thereof is provided with a longitudinally extending, upstanding tongue or .flange 31 and the other three sections 32 each' having its side edges raised and flanged or bent over at 33 to provide a longitudinally extending ,and downwardly opening groove 34 adapted conformably receive a tongue or flange 31 of the adjoining sectioris 29. To provide for interlocking engagement of the upper edge 35 of each'of the sections 29 and 32 in the canopy top, this upper edge is provided with an upwardly inclined flange 36 adapted to be received in an inclined groove or recess provided inwardly of each of the depending and outwardly and downwardly inclined flanges 37' aflixed to the outer stepped portion of the canopy top 15 but spaced therefrom to form the groove. Thus by raising or tilting the outer or lower and wider end 38 of these canopy sections upwardly, the flange 36 is directed into .the groove between the flange 37 and the stepped inclined'portion 15 of the canopy top, and when the end 38Vis lowered the flanges 36 and 37 interlock and the end 35 is held in fixed assembly. T .1 1',

In assembling these canopy sections 29 and 32,the three a ternate vent sections-29 are first. located in assembled position after which the'three sections 32 are located in assembled relation whereby the downwardly opening grooves 34 of the flanges 33 of the sections conformably receive the upstanding flanges or tongues 31 of the vent sections 29, with the adjoining assembled sections in their downwardly inclined, operative position being supported on the end flanges 27 and end plates 28 on the triangular sections 23 and 24 rigidly secured together to form the star brace assembly 22 in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Interlocked sections 29 and 32 resting on the upper edge of an end flange 27 or on the upper edge of an end plate 28'are shown joined together by a bolt 39 projected through aligned openings 40 in the interengaging flanges 31 and 33, although any suitable type of fastener may be used. V

The canopy sections or segments 29 are each adapted to be vented by means of multiple vent openings or ports 41 provided therein and a rotatable closur'e plate 42 provided with multiple vent openings43 movable into and out of registry with the ports 41 :upon rotation or adjustment of the closure plate 42. -The section'or segment 32 in alignment with the neck or aspirator'44 of the burner and burner tube 45 forsupplying gasor fuel to the burner is provided with an access opening and a pivoted closure or inspection door 46, and also with an adjacent smaller opening through which projects a valved inlet pipe 47 for the entry of'the gas for heating the brooder.

The inlet pipe 47 connects with agas regulator 48 attached to the underside of the door section or segment 32 by means of a clamp 49 screwed or aflixed to the underside of the door section, with the gas regulator being adjusted by a regulator adjusting screw 51, the

upper adjusting end of which projects through an open ing in the door section 32 to the exterior of the brooder for ready access and adjustment of the regulator. A pilot tube 52 supplies gas to a pilot 53 for the burner 10.

The hover or canopy sections or segments 29 and 31 may each be provided with a depending side flap 54 pivotally and loosely attached to the lower end 38 of these sections by spaced rings 55.-

It will bereadily appreciated that the present novel brooder construction maybe disassembled for shipment and readily and easily assembled in situ by the purchaser or assembler without previousexperience. and requiring but a screw driver and wrench. The heater unit consisting of the burner 10, heater base 11, radiant 12 and the heater hangers 13 is preferably preassembled, as is also the star brace assembly 22 consisting of the triangular sections 23 and 24.

In the final assembly, the heater unit is placed over the reversed canopy top and is attached to the underside thereof by wing nuts and'bolts projecting from the underside of the canopy top with these bolts projecting through bolt holes in the upper flanged end 14 of the hangers 13. With the assembed canopy top and heater unit retained in this reverse position, the star brace 22 is placed over the heater unit with the normally lower section24 on top. The legs 19 are then attached or anchored in adjusted position upon the heater hangers l3 and the star brace assembly 22 is then anchored by means of suitable screws and nuts or other attaching means to one end of the inclined brackets 21 with the other end of these brackets anchored to the heater hang- I supported upon the legs 19, the canopy sections or segments' 29-and 32 are now attached; *To facilitate assembly of these sections the canopy top 15 is marked with an arrow so that the neck 44 of the burner is aligned with and points toward that arrow, thus assuring that the door section 32 will be aligned-with the burner or heater 10. With the parts now arranged to receive the sections 29 and 32, the three vented canopy sections 29 are first mounted in alternate relation with two of these sections 29 disposed at the opposite sides of the burner neck 44, and with the upper flange 36 of each inserted into the groove or space behind one of the depending flanges 37 defining the periphery of the canopy top. This is accomplished by elevating the outer or lower end to permit insertion of the flange 36. "Neiit the sections 32 are similarly as-- sembled with the door section 32 aligned with' the burner neck 44 and the grooved edges 33 conformably receiving the upstanding edge flanges 31 of the vented sections 29. The interlocked segments or sections 29 and 31 are then connected by the bolts 39 and supported upon the star brace 22 as 'shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

After the brooder with its hover or canopy has been assembled as above described, the regulator 48 is attached to the underside of the door section 32 and the regulator adjusting screw 51 affixed. All that is then required is to pipe up the burner, pilot and regulator and connect it to a source of gas supply. If the brooder is to be suspended from the ceiling or other support and above the floor rather than supported by its legs 19 upon the floor, the hanger assembly 17 is attached to a depending rope and pulleys and the slide hanger adjusted whereby the stove or heater hangs level. I

Having thus disclosed the invention, we claim:

1. In a brooder assembly, a hover for said brooder comprising a centrally arranged canopy top having plural sides defining its periphery with an overhanging flange along each side and a plurality of canopy sections diverging from said top and each connected at its upper end to one of theoverhanging flanges along the sides defining the periphery of said top, said sections each having an inclined flange at its upper end having interlocking engagement with an overhanging flange along the periphery of said top and with alternate sections each having an upstanding flange along the edges of its opposite sides and the other alternate sections each having a flanged part along the edges of its opposite sides provided with a downwardly opening gro'ove, each of said grooves conformably receiving one of the flanges on the edge of an adjoining section, and means for securing said flanges in the grooves of said flanged parts.

2. In a brooder assembly, a hover for said broo'der comprising a centrally arranged canopy top of polygonal shape and providing a closure at the upper end of said hover, and a plurality of contiguous canopy segments diverging from the periphery of said canopy top providing a hover of polygonal shape at its periphery, said canopy top having overlying depending flanges adjacent to and spaced from its periphery td provide a groove between each side of the periphery and its flange, said contiguous segments having radially extending interlocking flanges and at the upper end each segment is provided with an upstanding flange received in a groove of the canopy top and interlocked with a depending flange on said canopy top, and means for connecting the radially extending interlocking flanges on said segments.

3. In a brooder assembly, a hover for said brooder comprising a centrally arranged canopy top of polygonal shape and providing a closure at the upper end of said hover, and a plurality of adjoining cano'py segments diverging from said canopy top and of progressively increasing width, said canopy top having thereon depending flanges spaced from the periphery of the top to provide a groove therebetween and each of said segments having at its upper end a flange received in a groove and interlocked with one of said depending flanges, each of said segments projecting radially from said top with the radially extending edges of alternate segments provided with an upstanding flange and the radially extending edges of the intermediate segments having a grooved edge conformably receiving the upstanding flange of an adjoining segment, means below the segments for supporting said segments to provide an enclosure, and means for joining each upstanding flange to the grooved edge of an adjoining segment.

4. In a brooder construction adapted to be shipped disassembled but ready for assembly by the purchaser in situ, comprising a heater unit, including a heater base plate, vertically extending heater hangers circumferentially spaced about said plate and to which said plate is anchored in horizontal position, a burner mounted upon said plate and a radiant aflixed to said hangers in vertically spaced relation with said burner, a horizontally disposed star-shaped brace mounted upon said hangers above said burner, a canopy top supported upon the upper end of said hangers above said heater unit and brace and canopy segments radiating outwardly and downwardly from and connected at their upper end to said canopy top and joined together along their opposite sides with said segments resting upon and supported by the corners of said brace.

5. In a brooder construction adapted to be shipped disassembled but ready for assembly by the purchaser in situ, comprising a heater unit including vertically disposed heater hangers spaced about the periphery of the heater unit, a hover having a canopy top covering the heater unit and of polygonal shape at its periphery with each peripheral edge provided with a depending flange adjacent to and spaced from each edge and multiple canopy sections each provided with a flange at its upper edge interengaging with a depending flange on the canopy top, means for aifixing said canopy top to the upper end of said hangers and said sections having radially projecting flanged edges with alternate sections having an upstanding flange along said edges and the intermediate sections having a grooved flange with the groove thereof opening downwardly and conformably receiving an upstanding flange of an adjoining section, and a support mounted on the hangers of the heater unit and beneath said canopy top and having outwardly extending projections over which said assembled and connected sections project and upon which they rest.

6. In a brooder construction as set forth in claim 5,

in which said support comprises a star-shaped brace with the points or" said star projecting beyond and below the periphery of said canopy top to provide plural projections upon which adjoining sections rest in the assembled brooder.

7. In a brooder construction as set forth in claim 5, in which said support comprises two triangular sections secured together to provide a star-shaped brace with the points of said star having lateral projections upon which adjoining canopy sections rest and with a canopy section supported upon each point of said star.

8. In a broader construction as set forth in claim 5, in which said support comprises triangular sections mounted in overlapping relation and joined together to provide a star-shaped brace with the corners of the upper triangular section provided with laterally projecting flanges and the corners of the lower triangular section provided with upstanding plates with the upper edge of said plates being in substantial alignment with the upper edge of the corner flanges of the upper triangular section, the upper edges of said corner flanges and plates providing a support upon which adjoining canopy sections rest when assembled.

9. In a brooder construction adapted to be shipped disassembled but ready for assembly in situ, comprising a heater unit including vertically spaced heater hangers for.

mounting and supporting the heater unit, a hover including a canopy top aflixed to the upper end of said hangers and projecting over and covering said heater unit, multiple canopy sections radiating from said cano'py top, flanges on the upper end of each canopy section and the periphery of the canopy top for interlocking engagement, interengaging flanges on the abutting edges of adjoining canopy sections for interlocking engagement of said adjoining canopy sections, and a star-shaped brace mounted upon said heater hangers below said canopy top witheach of the adjoining canopy sections resting upon and supported by one of the corners of said brace.

10. In a brooder construction as set forth in claim 9, including legs adjustably mounted upon said heater hangers for supporting the brooder assembly in elevated position upon a floor or other supporting surface.

11. In a brooder construction adapted to be shipped disassembled but ready for assembly by the purchaser in situ, comprising a heater unit, a canopy having a canopy top aflixed to the upper end of the heater unit and a plurality of canopy segments with each segment having an upper end detachably joined to the canopy top and provided with radially projecting edges having interengaging flanges along said radially projecting edges forming the assembled canopy, and a support comprising two superimposed triangular sections joined together to provide a horizontally disposed star-shaped brace aflixed to" the heater unit with the corners of said brace engaging beneath and supporting the assembled canopy segments thereabove in downwardly and outwardly inclined position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,626,281 Frengle et al. Apr. 26, 1927 1,924,480 Bayley Aug. 29, 1933 2,019,041 Bayley Oct. 29, 1935 

